On a huge weekend of European Championship racing, Great Britain’s Jacqui Slack raced through challenging conditions at Vallée de Joux to reach the podium, as XTERRA Switzerland co-hosted the 2016 ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships
(Photo: @Tri247)
Having earned fifth, sixth and fourth place positions at the last three editions of the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships, Jacqui Slack achieved her first international championship podium finish in a close battle for the Silver medal at the ETU European Championships on Saturday.
Jacqui is no stranger to the off-road scene, having earned many wins on the international XTERRA circuit over the last five years, and this year’s European Championship was held in conjunction with the XTERRA Switzerland event. After a strong swim, Jacqui soon took the lead on a bike course which was quickly turning into a mud bath as the rain started steadily and then turned into a downpour. Passed towards the end of the bike by Renata Bucher (SUI), she was right in contention and a close second starting the run.
Michelle Flipo (FRA) was able to fight back on the run, having set the fastest swim time and then slipped back to fourth at T2, to take the top spot on the podium with a winning margin of two and a half minutes. However, the race was certainly on for second, third and fourth positions between Slack, Bucher and Myriam Guillot-Boissett (FRA). They would battle right to the end, crossing the line separated by just four seconds. Slack won that battle to take Silver, while Guillot-Boissett took the Bronze by just one tenth of a second.
2015 ETU Cross Duathlon European Silver medallist Louise Fox finished tenth, with Jessica Roberts 12th in her first Elite start for the Great Britain team.
The Elite Men’s title went to Spain’s Ruben Ruzafa, adding the European title to the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship he has won for the past two seasons. Britain’s sole entry in the Men’s Elite race – also in his first Elite start for the Great Britain team – was Henry Sleight, who finished 18th overall in the event.
As well as our Elite athletes, a small squad or around 30 age-groupers headed out to Switzerland to seek success in their categories. The team returned a total of eight medals including two Gold, with the full listing provided below.
In winning the F45-49 category, Claire Hitchings achieved a 2016 double of winning both the ETU Cross Duathlon and Cross Triathlon championships in the same season. A versatile athlete, she also won the ITU World Triathlon Championships (40-44, Sprint) held in Hyde Park three years ago.
XTERRA Switzerland – Saturday 25th June 2016
Vallée de Joux ETU Cross Triathlon European Championships
1.5km / 36km / 10km
WOMEN
1st - Michelle Flipo (FRA) - 3:18:40
2nd - Jacqui Slack (GBR) - 3:21:16
3rd - Myriam Guillot-Boisser (FRA) - 3:21:20
10th - Louise Fox (GBR) - 3:32:22
12th - Jessica Roberts (GBR) - 3:34:47
MEN
1st - Ruben Ruzafa (ESP) - 2:47:58
2nd - Kris Coddens (BEL) - 2:49:18
3rd - Brice Daubord (FRA) - 2:49:28
18th - Henry Sleight (GBR) - 2:58:27
GREAT BRITAIN AGE-GROUP TEAM MEDALLISTS
Gold (2)
Sarah Bakewell (F25-29)
Claire Hitchings (F45-49)
Silver (1)
Guy Evans (M50-54)
Bronze (5)
Sharn Hooper (F30-34)
Natalie Smith (F35-39)
Renell Brennan (F45-49)
Greg Mcnally (M45-49)
Nick Farnell (M55-59)
